Member News
If you have exciting GCWA member news to share, please email our Association Editor at gcwa.editor@gmail.com with all the details.
Member News September 2023
GCWA Critique Group
When: 3rd Thursday of the month. First meeting 21 September 2023 6-8pm Arrive in time for a 6pm start.
Where: Bookness bookshop in Mudgeeraba.
Cost: $10 includes a hot beverage. Paid to Bookness in person or through their event portal on their website: BOOK HERE.
**You must be a financial member of the Gold Coast Writers Association.**
“Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfills the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things.” – Winston Churchill
The Gold Coast Writers Association Critique group aims to help its members improve the readability of their work. Giving and receiving feedback on our work can be scary so we will have a strict ‘Constructive Feedback Only’ rule.
Learn to give and receive feedback to improve your work in a friendly, positive space. Each writer will bring the following:
- An open and caring attitude. All feedback should be constructive and informed. The rules of engagement will be posted in the Facebook group and at each meeting.
- At least one copy of a piece of written work for critique, up to 1000 words, printed on one side and stapled. Use 3cm margins, double spacing, an easily readable font, indent/new line for each line of dialogue and the working title and genre in the header. Ensure you have edited and proofread the piece to the best of your ability.
- A cover page stapled to the front with the following information.
- Genre
- Format (a short story or except from a larger piece of work i.e. longer story, novella, novel.)
- Three or four points you would like the critique group to focus on when critiquing your piece. i.e. Character development/arc, dialogue, story arc, setting and world building, genre-specific beats, conflict. Be as specific as you like or leave it up to the reader.
2023 Davitt Awards Non-Fiction winner – Out of the Ashes (Big Sky Publishing).
Big congratulations to Megan Norris. Her book focuses on the 2002 Bali bombing survivor, Therese Fox. In a surprise announcement, Megan told the crowd that Therese’s pilgrimage back to Kuta last October to promote the release of Out of the Ashes was captured by 60 Minutes, and though painful, it has an unexpected very happy ending – a marriage proposal from another burns survivor. Therese was at the Davitts with her brother and daughter and was visibly moved by Norris’ tribute. Posted by Carmel Shute.
Member News August 2023
Out of the Ashes, by true crime author and journalist Megan Norris, has been shortlisted in the Sisters in Crime Australia Davitt Awards for Best Nonfiction of 2023. Congratulations Megan!
Many of you will remember our May speaker Captain Dylan Conway from Brothers and Books who inspired us to read for increased wellbeing and resilience. Dylan has issued GCWA with a challenge: to read five books in 50 days for The World’s Coolest Readathon.
Jen Swenson – Life in the Key of Grey was announced as a finalist for the inaugural ‘Bookness Creative Writing Awards’ sponsored by Hughes Lawyers.
Find the GCWA team in the link below, join in the reading fun and help us raise money for a worthy cause. Everyone is welcome to the Gold Coast Writers Association team.
Visit the World’s Coolest Readathon events page for more information.
Member News July 2023
Congratulations to Kellie M Cox who received a Highly Commended for her short story, Sixty-Five and Fearless, in the Peter Cowan Short Story Competition. In a big month for Kellie, her short story, Girl Down, was published in the Qld Writers Centre Short Fiction anthology, My Story, My Voice.
Works by Kate Kelsen and Judy Wollin have been selected for publication in The Outback, an anthology of short stories published in conjunction with the Outback Writers Festival at Winton.
Member News for June 2023
Our GCWA Short Story Competition for 2023
Now closed
Head over to our Competitions and Resources page to learn more.
Discounts for our members
A very generous offer from our supporters Angela & David Photography
An offer from the lovely Candice Lemon-Scott from Big B Books
Join Megan Norris and Stefanie Hinrichs
You are invited to join award winning author and journalist, Megan Norris in conversation with survivor, Stefanie Hinrichs for the dinner and launch of their new book, The Messiah’s Bride published by Penguin Random House.
The event will be held on Tuesday February 21st at Dublin Docks Tavern in Harbour Town, Biggera Waters, starting at 6.30pm for any lovers of true crime. Books available for purchase and signing at the event.
More about Megan Norris
Megan Norris is a UK-trained journalist and award-winning true crime author who has covered some of Australia’s most infamous crimes for national and international media.
Her first book, Perfect Victim, co-authored with author, Elizabeth Southall, is now a movie starring Sam Neill, Miranda Otto, and Guy Pearce, while her exploration of revenge killings during marital breakdown – Look What You Made Me Do by Five Mile Press – won the 2017 Sisters in Crime Davitt Award for best non-fiction.
The Messiah’s Bride, due for release with Penguin Random House on February 14th is Megan’s eighth book.
We are excited to announce the competition winners for our 2022 short story competition Writing in the Sand judged by Lori-Jay Ellis CEO, Queensland Writers Centre.
Congratulations to:
First Place
Finding Words by Justin Andrews
Second Place
The Three Minute Heirloom by Russell Merrin
Third Place
Back Story by Cherie Bombell
Congratulations to all that entered. Listed below are the authors that made it to our long list in alphabetical order by surname.
Justin Andrews – Finding Words.
Beverley Bird – The Circle.
Cherie Bombell – Back Story.
Chris Chard – Floatlines.
Johnny Graham – Searching for Sandy Times.
Russel Merrin – The Three Minute Heirloom.
Wendy Tarrant – Dyslexia. Pfft.
Bob Topping – All it May have Been.
Steve Treffery – Ten Years.
Lauren Wapling – Story Wire.
Gina Watkins – Mirage.
Connor Zahra – Green Beach.
Thank you to Lori-Jay Ellis and her team, and committee members, Christine Betts, Kerri Yarsley, Kellie Cox, Kate Kelsen, Jane O’Connell and Selena Budgen for their time and dedication in bringing the competition to life.